Raven Tales: Stories of the Raven based on the folklore of the Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Inuit, and Athapascan of Alaska

by Dennis Waller

"The Tlingit and the Haida don't have myths; they are stories about our history" The Raven is as much a paradoxical creature as he is important in the myths of many native cultures. The central character of these stories, the Raven is considered the benevolent creator, filling the world with beauty and harmony, the master mind behind all that is good and looked upon with warm admiration. On the other hand, he is often viewed as a malevolent conniving, scheming trickster with self-gratification as his only goal. Including stories of the Raven eating the unsuspecting victim out of house and home or bidding someone to do his work, he is still the ultimate larger-than-life heroic figure within the myths. Whether it is creating animals or chasing down a woman to marry, one thing for sure, the Raven has left us with a rich and colorful history recorded in the myths and legends of the indigenous people. While the Raven appears throughout the world in mythology, our focus here will be centered on the Tlingit, Tsimshian, Haida, the Yupiit and Inupiat also known as the Eskimo, and the Athapascan Peoples of Alaska. What follows are 30 stories that seem to contradict each other adding to the confusion as to what or who this Raven really is. The cornerstone of this book is the Tlingit Creation Story which shows why the Raven is regarded as a grandfather to the people and is thought of with respect in asking for good health, good hunting, and for good fortune. It was the Raven that created man, the forest and the animals that inhabited them, the rivers and the fish that live in the water. In this context, the Raven is revered. However there are other stories that portray the Raven as a lazy scavenger, living off the hard work of others, or seeking sexual pleasure, the Raven is a shining example of how multi-faceted a myth can be. From being worship to being considered a lazy birdbrained (pardon the pun) imbecile, the Raven has most definitely left us with a fascinating collection of tales.

146 pages, Paperback

First published April 17, 2014

Reviews

[Joanne Fate · Rating 4 out of 5]

The raven stories are well written and the narration was strong. The narrator has a bit of an odd accent when he reads some of the stories, but I'm sure it's intentional. That took a little getting used to. I absolutely loved some of these stories and some were way too short. But I'm so glad I decided to buy and listen to this very inexpensive book. I started with books about Alaska and this was the 6th (another was by a Nunavut Inuit woman from Canada). I wish I had listened to this earlier; I think knowing about the mythology of people helps one understand them just a little more.

I would recommend this as it's a quick read or listen and some of it will bring laughter. The narrator would be great reading kids' books I think

[Danél · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waller collects various Raven myths of Alaska here and presents them succinctly and for the layman. A fast read in which the legends and myths appear in random order; I would have appreciated more information about Waller's selection process, but Raven --sometimes the creator, sometimes the trickster, and always hunger -- nevertheless emerges as a fascinating and layered character. This is a very useful starting point if you are unfamiliar with this character as he (and sometimes she) is represented in the various Alaskan Native cultures. More serious students of this folklore will probably want to look elsewhere, however, as Waller really is writing for beginners. But on that level, this is a fun little read!

[Kim Clune · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having been a guide along the Chilkat River and admiring the Tlingit totems featuring ravens, eagles and killer whales, it was wonderful to listen to the mythology behind these creatures, as well as the origin tale of the prized Chilkat dancing blanket. What I appreciated most about this book was the brief explanation of how a particular raven myth was used to teach a lesson about laziness and greed. I do wish each story had a.bit of contextualizing like that, but I liked the book all the same.

[todd friedlander · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too repetitive

Too repetitive. A few images of tribal animal masks, etc would add to the value of the book to those unfamiliar with the animal representations.

[Aurora Deshauteurs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting selection of Raven's tales. Seeing so many together was eye opening. Mischief is the raven's forte, so is book was full of it.

[Kerri Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raven Tales

So many of these stories I remember being told to me as a small child. I still can hear the storytellers voice when I read some of these.

[Uvi Poznansky · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Raven is considered “the benevolent creator, filling the world with beauty and harmony”—and by contrast, viewed as a “malevolent, conniving scheming trickster with self-gratification as his only goal.” Either way, the awe inspired by him grant us rich and vibrant folkloric legends of the indigenous people. They have survived the test of time by being passed down many generations through oral tradition. In so doing, they convey subtle aspects of the culture of the indigenous people, offer a symbolic significance to that which is mysterious in life, and enrich our literature.

I am in awe of the care taken by Dennis Waller in compiling this body of work and presenting it to us. He is widely recognized as an expert on spiritual existence, self-discover, and exploring the human consciousness, all of which you can truly appreciate reading Raven Tales.

I enjoy the quote he offers at the opening of the book, “The Tlingit and the Haida don’t have myths; they are stories about our history.” It is indeed a fine line between myths, which is an expression of imagination, and history, which is a record of reality. Taken together, they give meaning to our life.

The notion that storytellers are like builders who build standing on the shoulders of those who came before them is fascinating to me. The material presented in Raven Tales relies not only on oral tradition but also the work of dedicated researches, whose work a hundred years ago preserved it and carried it forth, into the hands of Dennis Waller who is now offering it to you.

Five stars.

[Pennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting and entertaining read based on tribal stories from Alaskans, and their history. The raven can have many dark mythological faces attached to it, and is one of the few birds that may be the most misunderstood. It can be portrayed as a messenger of death and despair. To this day, the raven is still quite mysterious and has been portrayed in many well known movies throughout the world (and NOT in a romantic way). The most famous being, of course, a symbolic presence in the disturbed mind of Sir Edgar Allen Poe's classic story. It's not all bad though as the raven can also have traits of kindness, and creativity. This well written book teaches us the essence of culture from North American and Alaskan heritage. It is quite clear that the author has done extensive research and possibly even studied this civilization up close and personable. The representation of symbolic teachings of folklore that dates back centuries is uncanny to say the least. On that note, gather around the campfire with Dennis Waller and enjoy fascinating primitive beliefs from 'Raven Tales'. A true delight.

[Linda Rusche · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting to read these stories of Alaska's native people. I haven't read anything but singular stories at a time. I don't feel I can truly rate the book or writing as I haven't read any others regarding the prior and it's stories of this region. I did enjoy it however!